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No. 696,576. Patented Apr. I, I902.

T. B. LEE.

GOLD DREDGE.

(Application filed Aug. 19, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

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THOMAS I LEE, OF FARMINGTON, TERRITORY OF NEW MEXICO.

GOLD -DREDGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 696,576, dated April 1, 1902.

Application filed August 19, 1901. Serial No. 72,589. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. LEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Farmington, in the county of San Juan and Territory of New Mexico, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gold-Dredges; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to gold-dredges.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel form of dredge with novel means for operating it, whereby river-bottom sand hearing flour-gold may be expeditiously removed for the purpose of extracting the gold therefrom.

With this and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularlypointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of my invention, illustrating conventionally the supporting-frame for the Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the dredge, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the invention applied.

In carrying out the invention I take two pontoon boats or scows and support between the two the frame 1 of the dredge. This frame may be of any desired construction and is equipped with a number of pulleys.

4 denotes a dredge tubular in cross-section and semicircular in length and provided at its lower end with a'shovel orbit 5, which projects in the flaring mouth 6. end of the dredge is provided with an airhole or nipple 7 to permit of the escape of air in the filling of the dredge and of entrance of the air to the dredge in the discharge from the dredge of the gold-bearing sand. The dredge is materially strengthened by a brace rod 8, which is secured to and located between the opposite ends of the dredge, and by the parallel flanges 9 of the dredge being riveted together. Eight cables leading to any desired number of windlasses are used for operating the dredge. Cable A is connected at one end to a ring a at the lower for- The upper ward end of the dredge and is rove around a pulley ct and has its other end attached to a Windlass. Cable B has one end connected to the upper end of the dredge, is rove around a pulley I), located above the pulley a", and has its opposite end connected to a Windlass. Cable 0 has one end connected to the ring Ct, extends upwardly on an incline, is rove around a pulley c, and has its opposite end connected to a Windlass. Cable D has one end connected to the upper end of the dredge, extends upwardly, and is rove around a pulley d and is connected at the opposite end to a Windlass. Cable E is connected to the lower end of the dredge and extends rearwardly, is rove around a pulley e, and is connected at its other end to a Windlass. Cable F is connected to the lower end of the dredge at the same point as cable E, extends rearwardly on an incline, is rove around a pulley f, and is connected at its opposite end to a Windlass. Cable G has one end connected to the upper end of the dredge, extends upwardly and rearwardly, is passed around a pulley. g, and has its other end secured to a Windlass. Cable H has one end connected to the cable A intermediate its ends and immediately over the bit or blade of the dredge, extends vertically, is rove around a pulley h, extends rearwardly, and is connected to a Windlass.

All of the pulleys above described are connected to the frame 1, and the ropes or cables wind around these pulleys and extend to and are connected to windlasses, which maybe suitably mounted in the frame or on one of the barges or pontoon-boats, and as these windlasses are of the usual and Well-known construction it is not thought to be necessary to specify theirconstruction orillustrate them in the drawings.

In operation, assuming the dredge to be in the position shown in Fig. 1, in which position the blade is resting upon the river-bed, ready to be drawn forward and then upward, which is done very slowly, as follows: Strain is applied to the cables A and B, while the cables E, F, and G are slack. The dredge is now drawn forward from four to eight feet. The cable A is now slightly slackened, as is also the cable B. The cables G, D, and Gare now taken up by their windlasses, and then the cable D is slightly slackened. A continued draft is supplied to the cables 0 and G until the'dredge is elevated the desired distance, with both ends thereof on a level, or, in other Words, until it assumes a position to resemble the letter U, in which position it is ready for d umping,Which may be done by the proper manipulation of the cables. The cable H is used for the purpose of holding the cable A out of contact With the bit or blade of the dredge when elevated, thus preventing any damage to said cable A, While the cables E and F are used to retract or move the dredge rearwardly after it has been moved forwardly by the cables A and B and it is desired to make a fresh scoop in the same spot in the river-bed.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, mode of operation, and advantages of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and details of construction may be made Within the scope of the invention Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Havingthus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat- I 1. A dredge consisting of a tapering tubular body parti-circular in length and provided With an air-hole in one end and with a bit or blade at its opposite end; in combination with cables to move it forwardly, rearwardly and vertically to rotate it on its axis,substantially in the manner specified.

2. A dredge, consisting of a tapering, tubular bod y,parti-circular in length and provided with an air-hole in one end, and with a bit or blade at its opposite end, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS B. LEE.

\Vitnesses:

JAMES W. LEE, FRANK M. PIERCE. 

